Public Services and Procurement Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada

Important notice

Writing Tips has been archived and won’t be updated before it is permanently deleted.

For the most up-to-date content, please consult Writing Tips Plus, which combines content from Writing Tips and The Canadian Style. And don’t forget to update your bookmarks!

Search Canada.ca
To begin your search, go to the alphabetical index below and click on the first letter of the word you are searching for.

each

When the pronoun each is the subject of a sentence, it is followed by a singular verb.

  • Each of the planets revolves around the Sun at different speeds.

Likewise, when the adjective each is placed before the subject as a modifier, it is followed by a singular verb—even in the case of two subjects joined by and.

  • Each province administers its own health system.
  • Each department and agency has implemented the new policy.

However, when each comes after a plural subject, a plural verb is employed.

  • The provinces each administer their own health system.
  • Canada and Mexico each trade extensively with the United States.